Baylor surging in Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings after pair of Top-100 commitments

Baylor recruiting continues to trend upward.

The Bears have now added a second commitment from a top-100 overall prospect this week, as San Antonio James Madison four-star wide receiver Jordan Clay pledged to the in-state program on Friday. Clay now flanks Temple (Texas) four-star EDGE Jamarion Carlton — who committed on Thursday — at the top of the class.

With two of the top 2026 recruits in the state of Texas now in the fold, Baylor has moved inside the top 30 of the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings and now checks in at No. 29 nationally. Carlton, the No. 44 overall prospect, and Clay, the No. 94 prospect, bring the Bears up to 16 total commits.

“I’m not big on numbers or logos of the school. My mom and I have three things — culture, coaches, and the offensive fit for me. Baylor fits all of that,” Clay told Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman about his decision.

The Baylor pledge list now features five four-star prospects. Head coach Dave Aranda and his staff are closing on top targets and surging with others ahead of the upcoming season.

Local talent highlights Baylor’s 2026 class

Of the 16 commits in the class, 13 are in-state recruits. That includes all five blue-chippers that have chosen the Bears to date.

Four-star cornerback Jamarion Vincent and four-star wide receiver London Smith are both right in Baylor’s backyard, playing for Waco Connally and University High, respectively. They committed to the Bears on back-to-back days at the end of January.

Vincent is an outlier for Rivals, checking in as the No. 108 recruit and No. 13 corner in the Rivals300. Smith is the No. 299 prospect and ranks No. 50 at the WR position.

Frisco (Texas) Lone Star four-star safety Jordan Deck was another big summer win, as he chose Baylor on June 24. He and Vincent form an impressive defensive back tandem.

Carlton’s commitment on Thursday was major. The 6-foot-4.5, 230-pounder will continue to flirt with five-star status this cycle and is certainly the jewel of the Baylor class. He chose it over Texas, LSU and Texas Tech.

“That coaching staff there and what they’re building … it’s nice down there,” Carlton told Spiegelman about the Baylor staff. “The whole staff made me feel like I was a priority and that getting me there was the main thing — and that was big regardless. It’s home and it feels like home.”

Other top commits in the class include: Lexington (Miss.) Holmes County three-star interior offensive lineman Donel Robinson, Mesquite (Texas) Horn three-star offensive tackle Kole Seaton, Austin (Texas) Liberty Christian three-star quarterback Quinn Murphy, Temple (Texas) Lake Belton three-star WR Davion Peters and Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove three-star CB Jamarion Richardson.

The class also now ranks No. 2 in the Big 12. The full pledge list can be seen here.